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A basic product that basically makes storing stuff easy peasy

I first bought Lock and Lock form QVC. It wasnt something I saw readily available in the shops, and I was desperate to organise my kitchen cupboard. The good thing about getting Lock and Lock from QVC at the time was just in case I thought they were rubbish, I would send them back, but I never needed to!

This review isnt about one particular size of Lock and Lock, just Lock and Lock in general. Firstly, over the years they have come in different sizes from very small to big, different colours and different shapes. They even started to make Lock and Lock for particular items, such as storing eggs, drinking beakers. But they always seem to still make them versitile. Example, having dividers in the boxes that you can take out, Lock and Lock that maybe different sizes but the lsame lid will fit each of them, Lock and Lock being stackable. So many examples! You dont have to store food products in them, you can put crafting items in it, scews, buttons, anything! I use mine for the following:the small ones I would use to store homemade baby food and put in the freezer.Now the kids are abit bigger, I use the small ones for snacks such as raisins.They are small and I just throw them into my coat pocket. Sizes like the 1lt I would put left over food in it and stick it in the freezer. All sized would be used to store foods such as biscuits, flour, sugar, salt etc.

One of the big draws for me was Lock and Locks claim to be water tight. Not bothered so much about water getting in it but more like liquid getting out, such as milk, juice, soup. I would normally taken to work a smoothie in one of the Lock and Lock beakers and it would be thrown around in my bag while wallking to work. Did it spill out and ruin my bag?Nope. All liquids stayed safe and sound when travelling.I cannot praise this product enough. the simple fact that there are so many copies out there say it all.But for me the original wins hands down.

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Kitchen cabinets are stocking up with these, get yourself some!

Tupperware has come a long, long way in the last couple of decades. Made from the cheapest, most flexible, least toxic / erodible, most easily formed material available today - plastic - containers like this Lock & Lock Airtight product are now common place in kitchen cabinets across the UK. Back when I was a kid, you just didn't get anywhere near the same level of quality, nor the same physical features as these modern varieties procure. They are strong, secure, reliable and long-lasting. But most of all, they're reasonably priced. You can pick up one of these stack-able containers from Amazon.co.uk for £4.50.

FORM:The container has a capacity of 1 litre and is a rectangular shape (to suit storage and packaged items which need to be kept within). The edges are rounded to increase safety, and the lid bulges slightly outwards to maximise the space inside. The most interesting aspects of the design are the containers air / water-tight seal and innovative 4 x locking mechanism, which clamps the lid securely down on each side. Made from a rugged plastic, the locks contain small slits which clip to lips on the bases sides. They clip down with a fair bit of pressure applied, and un-clip with slightly more finger-power. The whole lid is removable and there are no hinging elements. The entire container is transparent (allowing you to see what is within) besides the seal which is coloured blue and highlights the outline of the opening.

USE:Due to their accurate, yet basic design, these containers will fit into tight spaces, saving on room. They are especially effective for use in fridges, where the plastic remains completely safe. According to the manufacturer, stacking these in fridges can save up to 40% on space (reiterated by Amazon).

I tend to use my Lock & Lock's for storing raw or cooked meats, and fresh fish. Due to their innovative seal and lock mechanism, no moisture, smell (air) can cross the material - they are 100% tight. Any strong smelling substance can be locked away securely - cheeses, vegetables, sweet snacks, etc. They also make excellent lunch boxes, extremely rarely coming open unnecessarily - if you secure it properly to begin with you'll have no trouble. It might well be difficult for children to open and close the box however, due to the locks - but I'm sure parents and teachers can lend a hand at lunch time.

You can even use them in microwaves and dishwashers, so the material and the design is truly multi-functional - a friend of the kitchen and of the house-wife/husband. The container won't scratch or gradually wear down at the bends, it can be used thousands of time with little to no visible detraction.

Overall, I've had some good use out of my containers and thoroughly recommend them. Sure they may be a bit expensive for some, but the design has been perfected for the function, and the functions / uses are endless. If you're after a multi-use container that can be used everywhere in the kitchen, is safe, secure and long-lasting, pick this.

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When I moved from my old flat to my new flat most of the stuff I already owned came with me ready to be used. I had a load of plastic containers that had brought take aways to my old flat which I used for reheating with and storing bits and bobs in and even used them in the freezer however I decided when I came into a few quid that I would upgrade and actually buy some plastic style containers and these I found on Amazon and I bought a couple of them to see how I got on with them with a view to buying more if they worked out a good quality buy that met my needs.

I own a couple in the 180ml size and they cost me about three quid each including the post and packaging and like I say I bought mine from Amazon though do Google for them if your interested in buying some for the best prices and a list of suppliers as I haven't actually seen these in a shop.....ever come to think of it.

In design these are really very simple indeed. They are made from thick see through plastic and you can really see through them and mine have a blue coloured rim to the top of them. Mine are a good size and rather deep and it has four flap over style attached clips to the lid that simply lock onto the main of the box via little holes. Its really easy to clip them down and to secure items within it and those items can be solid or liquid of course. I have filled mine up with soup, done it up and turned it over and nothing escapes this providing you are sure to correctly secure it up of course!

Whats great about these is that they are pretty much suitable for anything! You can use them in the fridge, in the freezer and in the microwave providing you remove the lid to them of course. They are also dishwasher safe and suitable for using to stack, which is a space saving idea. Of course what you put in these is up to you whether it be liquid or food stuff or even arts and crafts to keep things safe and tidy

These are robust, easy to wash up (I do this by hand) and if the plastic gets stained I leave them to soak and give them a good scrub and all in all I think these are really useful addition to my kitchen as I live alone and often cook up far too much for just me so my leftovers can be safely stored now in my fridge and/or freezer and I have recommended these to anyone that will listen giving me the title of being boring....but what a find....I'm just so pleased with them!

This review is also posted on Ciao under this same username.

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Excellent airtight containers with lots of variety

As a student I'm always looking for new ways to make my money stretch further. One way I have attempted to save money is by keeping my food fresh and easy to store. I often make myself a packed lunch as its just so much cheaper than buying and eating out and I can just click open my Lock & Lock box and tuck right in.

The basic idea of these airtight containers is that you line up the box and lid and click down the flaps. This keeps the box airtight and it acts as a vacuum. There is a huge amount of range in terms of size and function from these containers, from rectangular shapes to mealboxes with dividers. A particular box I would definitely recommend is is the thin container with a flip lid which I use for storing different cereals. I think this is a lot less messy as I have a habit of opening my cupboard and the box falls down and all the contents pour out. Smaller boxes are also great for storing and freezing chopped fruit and its an easy way to get your five a day by just opening up a box and snacking.

The airtight quality of the boxes mean that they are waterproof. I often use them to store pasta dishes and sometimes when I make too much curry and the liquid stays put and they do not ever leak. This quality also keeps the smell in so when I make a particularly strong curry I'm not thrown back by the smell when I am stifling through my boxes.

The boxes are reusable and very easy to clean. They are described as top shelf dishwasher safe in their instructions. One issue I do have is that after years of use (and not a fault of the box itself but my own vigorous scrubbing) they have become a bit abrasive and so sometimes bright colours (especially of my curry dishes) stay on the box and tint it slightly even if I soak them for ages. This is more of a warning if anything and the cleaning instructions do say to not use abrasive cleaners and scrubbers so be careful to read them first. I don't own a dishwasher and wash mine by hand and they still manage to look just as new.

You can reheat in the microwave but you should remove the lid before doing so. In fact, the instructions do tell to remove all four latches and to loosen the lid before using the microwave.

The boxes and lid are see through and made of plastic. The seal is silicone. This makes it easy to spot what's inside the box without having to remove numerous lids to find what you're looking for.

The cheapest box is currently £1.55 on the Lock & Lock website (having been reduced from £2.06) and is a 350ml rectangular food container. The most expensive box is £20 and this is a much more complex 'kitchen caddy' for multi-use. The prices of each box are very reasonable, especially considering they last for years and are very robust. The plastic is almost indestructible, I have never been able to crack or break a box.

These boxes can be used for storing in the cupboard, in drawers, for use in the fridge and/or freezer.

Overall these are excellent storage boxes which will last you for a while. They come with a lifelong guarantee and while obviously I can't guarantee that they last this long they have still managed to last a good few years. The latches have not loosened and so still help to keep the box airtight. They are great quality and fairly cheap to boot!

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Quality designed food storage tubs

Lock & Lock pretty much have the monopoly on quality containers. There are a multitude of different types that try to come close, but they maintain their no.1 status as far as our family is concerned, and we have plenty of them in our house.

The Lock & Lock range provides airtight storage in the simplest of fashions. We have thrown countless number of worn and inefficient tubs away over the years, learning the hard way that going for the cheapest option isn't always the best. Spending that little bit more and getting L&L products will keep your food stored better.

The main thing I have used these tubs for in the past is sandwiches. There's one particular size that fits sandwiches perfectly if you cut them lengthways, two rounds going into the tubs precisely, with the click lock facility on the lids sealing it in nicely. However, I have been cutting down a bit on my bread consumption and have been taking in leftovers from the previous night's meal so have upgraded to a slightly bigger and wider tub that is perfect for keeping rice and casserole, for example.

Of course, for this to work properly you need to be reassured that the tub is going to be properly sealed, and this is where L&L surge ahead of the rest, both with the ease of use and the effectiveness of the design. The click lock mechanism relies on a seal running around both the base and the top, and these lock into place with four flaps, one for each side of the four sided container. They're contoured to allow you to slip your finger under the flap to open them and get the food up, and I find that the rectangular one I use is the perfect size to put my used cutlery in afterwards, to save worrying about putting them in something to stop my bag getting dirty.

The way the click lock works seals things perfectly. I often take my lunch out of my bag and find that a good amount of it has ridden up and is on the underneath of the lid, but this has never seeped out of the container. Nor does anything splash when I open it, which I have experienced with other similar containers from other manufacturers.

You can get such a wide range of tubs that it doesn't matter what you need it for, there's s tub for it. The larger ones can also come with interior separators for you to be able to transport and store different components of a meal, particularly handy for picnics when you don't particularly want your coleslaw mixing with everything else!

They're very easy to wash as well. There are no hidden awkward grooves and corners to try and dig into, I find that just using a brush gets into the grooves very easily and they can go to drain or to be dried with a tea towel, either is simple.

Really, they have thought of these things how a user would want them, which a lot of companies don't seem to always do these days. Pricewise you are likely to pay a bit more for these tubs but they're ultimately worth the extra cost. You used to have a tough job getting them online other than a couple of niche places such as Lakeland, but now you can even get them from amazon, where they do combination of containers. I honestly can't remember how much we paid for the ones we have, we've had them a while and they've not deteriorated, although I believe that for around the £20 mark you can get a range of 6 different shapes and sized tubs that stack together. The stacking is also a key part of it, as it's easy to get a bit too zealous with buying these and finding that they're taking over your kitchen. Having them stackable enables you to organise things a bit better.

Overall then, highly recommendable products are these containers. Secure and reliable, easy to use and fairly priced. You can't go wrong.

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A great quality product.

I realised a number of years back that buying 'cheap' products can often prove to be false economy. It is the risk you take when buying such products. Are you really going to be getting a bargain product which will work just as well as its branded or more expensive counterparts?My personal experiences have been hit and miss. Whilst I have often made the right decision to purchase a cheaper version of a product, there are also many occasions when this has indeed turned out to be false economy.

One thing I learned years ago however, is when it comes to food storage containers, sandwich boxes etc, then my own personal experiences proved to me that these are indeed examples of products where buying cheap can be false economy. After forking out what I thought was a lot of money at the time for sandwich boxes from Tupperware for my children whilst at a party and feeling obliged to buy something, I later realised that this had in fact been money well spent as I never had to replace them, nor did they leak or show any signs of wear and tear. And as testament to this, I can say that these sandwich boxes are still used to this day.

So when I was wanting to purchase some decent food storage containers, I wanted to buy a quality product and purchased a 550ml storage container from Lock & Lock. I made my Lock & Lock purchase from a Lakeland store and although it was priced at £2 at the time, which isn't exactly expensive, it was certainly more to pay than a similar looking box priced at 59p in my local supermarket. However, having bought a cheaper container which leaked, I was not going to make that mistake again and Lock & Lock seemed to have no negative reviews of their storage containers.

Lock & Lock produced the first 'locking' plastic containers and although they are not the only manufacturers of this type of design, their quality does not seem to have been surpassed.

The appeal of Lock & Lock containers means you have a tight locking system thanks to the flaps on each side of the lid which 'lock down' over the box with a satisfying click to protect and secure the contents inside. The cheaper version I purchased would not lock securely on one side and therefore was not locking securely. Although I did think I had managed to lock it on one occasion, it actually popped open. I have had no such problem with Lock & Lock containers as they lock easily and are watertight. Not once have I had a problem with these popping open or leaking, even when dropped on the floor.My daughter reguarly uses these for work and has transported sandwiches, pasta and even soup inside these boxes with no problems.I also use them for storage in the fridge as well as the freezer. They keep products fresher for longer once opened and the boxes can easily be stacked snugly on top of each other, which is handy if space is an issue.

You are advised to remove the lids before microwaving, but I often just loosen the lids and leave them resting on the top to prevent splashing.Washing the boxes is also easy and of course they are safe to use in dishwashers too (on the top shelf). The only problem I have experienced is if I have used the boxes in the microwave when they have contained anything tomato based, such as baked beans or pasta sauces, bolgnese etc as this leads to the box becoming stained and that orange-red staining does not appear to be removable.

There are many different designs and sizes in the Lock & Lock range so whatever your requirements there should be something for you. And although I purchased my first box from Lakeland I have since purchased more online from Amazon.My recent purchase has again been from Amazon and is a six-piece set containing 3 x 800ml, 2 x 350ml and 1 x 5.5 litre containers priced at £16.00 instead of the RRP of £24.50 with free delivery. This set is still currently available at this price.

All products come with a lifetime guarantee and although you will find cheaper versions available, I don't think you will get this guarantee or the quality you get from Lock & Lock. Their quality and longevity is what makes them appealing to me and therefore worth the price paid.

Lock & Lock products are available online from Amazon.co.uk and Lakeland.co.uk. There may be other places which stock them too, but these are the only retailers I have purchased these containers from.

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5 stars from me!

I have bought several of these lock-lock containers for various needs over the last few years. I have found them the best out of all the brands I have used over the years. I find that these are just the most practical and keep whatever is inside fresh.

They are made from a robust plastic which is really solid, not at all flimsy, it won't bend out of shape so you can tell it is good quality. It has flaps over the side which click into place so it can't just easily be opened if you have it in your bag and it bumps around. It also means that it's easy to close without having to apply lots of force, all you do is put the lid on and bend the flaps down and they click into place. I really do hate the boxes where you have to put lots of pressure on the lid and struggle to get all corners to slot on, it wastes so much time and really frustrates me at times. This is so much easier to close.

It is also easy to open too, you just need to lift the flaps back up. It takes a little force but not very much and then the lid lifts off with ease.

I have some of these in different sizes, my smallest one being about 7cm x 7cm and it really useful for when I take small snacks out and about with me. My larger one is more like 20cm x 20cm and I use it for storing big cakes althouh I suppose you could store anything in it! When food is stored in these it remains really fresh. It is sturdy so if you're taking food out and about it should remain in tact and tastes really fresh because it is air tight.

I really like these and recommend them highly. If you get ones of teh same size they stack on top of each other so when full you can stack them and that helps to save space!

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excellent storage

Until recent years, I haven't really had the need for storage containers like these. But I have slowly been adding to my collection of them over the past few months - for lunch boxes and storing excess food stuffs. These containers are made of clear plastic and come in a variety of shapes and sizes. I have a number of larger sized containers as well as some smaller round containers.

What makes these containers unique is that they have a special clip mechanism attaching the lid to the box. The edge of the lid has four distinct areas that are folded and clipped (to give a snapping sound) down over the box and a silicone seal to ensure the box is airtight (and liquid tight) - and therefore keep food contained in the box fresh. The boxes are designed to be stackable - so ensuring that there is plenty of room in the fridge.

Prices vary depending on size of the container - I picked up a couple of the 1 litre storage containers for a little under £5. I think that this is a pretty decent price to be as they are very durable and robust. I use these to store excess food and they do keep it really fresh - I have not used with liquid so am unable to comment on the liquid tight seal. On first purchase, I was a little concerned about how strong the lid would be, particularly the four pieces that fasten down as I was worried these could snap or crack from constant snapping down. As it turned out, my fears were unfounded and the lids are actually really reliable and resilient. The boxes do stack well too, being flat in shape so they really are a space saver.

The boxes have multi uses too - for food, kids toys and tools/odds and ends in the garage. They are really handy to have around and well made so they do stand up well to a variety of uses. I would definitely recommend these to you.

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A great way of storing food

When my husband and I got engaged, my mother in law started to buy little bits and bobs for us for our new home, since we didn't have anything. One thing she bought us, that I have added to over the years, are these Lock and Lock airtight stackable containers - the modern day tupperware and I have to say they are brilliant.

These Lock and Lock containers claim to be 100% airtight, as well as being moisture and liquid tight. They are suitable for use in the fridge, freezer and microwave and dishwasher. The manufacturers also claim that by using this product, you will be less likely to throw away food, because it will stay fresh for longer. These containers are stackable in that if you have more than one, apart from if they are the same size, they will fit inside each other, meaning it should save space, which is useful for me.

Over the years, I have gathered a lot of these boxes in different shapes and sizes and they are stacked easily inside each other in one of my kitchen cupboards. THese boxes come in various sized rectangular, square and circular tubs. I use these containers for a variety of things; for putting sandwiches in, for storing fruit such as a cut up pineapple or mango, for taking little fruit pots to work. THey are also perfect for storing homemade soup in the freezer as they are good for portion sizes, and also they stop the soup for leaking, as my husband can attest to, given he sometimes takes a portion of soup for his lunch.

ALhtough I have mostly have only ever bought these Lock and Lock tubs, I did at one time buy a cheaper pack of tupperware, and it only served to show how effective these Lock and Lock products are in comparison. The cheaper version leaked when liquids where transported and they didn't always keep fruit as fresh in the fridge.

I don't have a dishwasher but I have washed these Lock and Lock products continually and they are as strong and reliable as the day I first bought them. They aren't cheap, but I often purchase them on amazon or sometimes Tesco have them on offer and they do stand the test of time, so in that regard they are worth it.

All in all, these are a brilliant modern day tupperware. THey keep food airtight and properly sealed, and are great for storing food in fridge and freezer. They also take up less room in the cupboard since they stack inside each other. A great product that will stand the test of time.

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Highly recommended

You know how it is, in the kitchen there's always an occasion where you need a secure container to put leftover food in, biscuits or crackers, tablets and supplements or in my case mostly my lad's (cat) pills and potions. Up until about a year ago I had some normal containers with lids that just pressed on but I kept either losing the lids somewhere or the lids would get warped and would no longer fit properly so I went looking for some other containers to use. I came across these Klip and Lock containers in Morrisons at the time but I can't remember how much I paid for them, Amazon have some smaller versions starting at about £2.25 upwards depending on size so expect to pay a few quid per box.

My boxes are also larger than the majority of ones on Amazon and I have one 1 litre one and two 2.6 litre containers but there are all kinds of shapes and sizes available. These containers are freezer safe, dishwasher safe on the top rack, microwave reheatable with the lid off and have a stacking space saving design. I confess I haven't used mine in the microwave or a dishwasher but I have had one in the freezer and it was fine. I don't own a dishwasher but can confirm these wash easily by hand. The space saving stacking design is true though and I usually have a couple of these stacked on the kitchen counter where I can easily access my lad's pills and pastes.

The seal tight lid involves a flat lid with a groove around the side that contains a strip of rubber, the clips are flaps of plastic with holes in them that click onto some protruding bits of plastic around the outside of the actual container section. The idea is you place the lid on and then fold these sides down and clip them into place. Is it a tight seal? Yes it is, I find it keeps everything I put into these containers totally fresh and the whole box, lid and locking bits of plastic are all very sturdy and solidly made.

I don't really have any gripes as such about these boxes but I do find that sometimes getting the flaps clipped into place is pretty difficult, sometimes I try and do a couple of sides but they just won't fold down properly and I have to switch to doing the other two sides first in order to get them to lock. Anyone thinking they might put something in them they will need to reach quietly forget it! The unclipping of the sides is quite loud but the re-clipping of them is very loud and really ought to make these "clip and clunk" so there's no midnight feasts to be had without making noise.

Those are small things though and I still really like these containers, I can't lose the lids so easily as they have the tell tale flaps, they seal tight and keep everything fresh and stack on top of each other neatly to leave more space for other things. I'm very pleased with mine and wouldn't hesitate to buy more of the same kind if I needed more. A full 5 stars from me despite the noise and occasional difficulty in closing the lids.

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The best kitchenware on the market if you ask me

It can be tricky to work out which things are worth spending money on, and when a budget version is just as good, but if you've ever had salad dressing drip out of a poorly sealed sandwich box, you'll appreciate how much of a false economy cheap plastic containers are.

Lock & Lock were the first people to bring 'locking' plastic containers to the market and though they're no longer the only people using this sort of design, they remain the original and best in my opinion.

The premise is simple and I'm sure many people will have seen these on the high street if they don't own some of their own. The containers, which come in a wide range of sizes and shapes, have special lids. Rather than just pressing them down on top as with traditional Tupperware these have to be aligned carefully. The lids have special slits in them, and the bases have corresponding ridges. The slits fit down over these, and then extra flaps are clicked into place. The reason this works so well is because the two parts are then interwoven. Think how much stronger it is to link your fingers than just to place one hand on top of the other. The lock means you're not relying on a flimsy seal. The sort that come with most generic plastic boxes often deteriorate over time, so not having one is a real benefit in terms of longevity.

With other brands it's possible to think that a lid is on securely when it's not, but with Lock & Lock there's no denying it, as you get a satisfying audible click as each flap goes down. They're not hard to close or open, but you do need to make a concerted effort, meaning the chances of them accidentally being knocked open when bouncing around a bag or similar are next to none. The only other good plastic I've found have been boxes with really tight fitting lids that can be nail-breaking to remove, so I like that these lift off easily when you've unclicked them

Lock & Lock boxes are totally watertight. I have never once had a leak with these, and I often use them to transport messy things, like cold pesto pasta or a salad with olive oil and vinegar. They are also airtight which helps keep food fresher for much longer. I often use mine to keep open packets of biscuits nice and crisp but other people use them for fruit or salad ingredients. The lids also help prevent smells escaping, great if you don't want the smell of your garlic-laden leftovers to infiltrate the scrummy cheesecake in your fridge.

The water and air-tightness is the result of a mini vacuum created when the lid is locked in place. The website advises you to avoid storing food on a airplane in these (due to air pressurization) however I never travel without one now (many countries having only much cheaper, less effective versions on offer) and tend to use them to take my snacks on board (flights from the USA to South America tend not to offer special meals e.g. vegetarian - how rude!) I have never had any problems with these on planes, either opening on board or simply packing in checked in hold luggage.

Because the boxes are reusable (and super easy to wash) I find them much cheaper than using foil or cling film to wrap up leftovers and much easier too. I don't know about you, but I always end up having a fight with the latter, and wasting tons in the process as it bunches up on itself. With these boxes I can just pop in what I want, and click the lid into place to keep out air and flies.

You are told to remove lids before microwaving. To prevent splashes, I often unlock mine but then leave them lightly resting on top. Alternatively you could use a normal splash cover, or whip out the aforementioned horrible cling film, cover and pierce. The only slight problem I have found with these comes from microwaving baked beans. If I open a big can I tend to save the leftovers in one of these for another day, and then put them straight in the microwave, however in doing so I have managed to stain two of my boxes. Microwaved tomato sauce is notorious for this, but I had hoped Lock & Lock products might be immune to the red tinge. Unfortunately they are not, and now I have two permanently tinted boxes that stay that way, even when thoroughly clean. While it doesn't say so on the label, if you make an effort to go to the website there is a caveat that you should:

"Avoid reheating food high in oil, sugar, tomatoes, curries to prevent from staining and pitting"

Lock & Lock boxes are clear so you can always see what's inside, looking through the sides or the lid. Sometimes the lids can get a bit of condensation but this is only when you fill with warm food and put the lid on before it they it has cooled sufficiently. Because they're plastic they are almost impossible the break, even if you drop them on a hard kitchen floor.

Everything I've ever wanted from a plastic container is offered with Lock & Lock. They are suitable for use in microwaves and can be put in a dishwasher. I never hand wash at home because I'm lazy (and it uses less water to run a full dishwasher) so these have been in the machine a lot, but they show no signs of wear, and are not scratched at all. Though I've never bothered to do this, for a really thorough, deep clean you can remove the blue lid seal to ensure there is no bacteria trapped below it. I think this could be more important when used to store things like raw meat, but maybe I'm just grosser than I should be - if I can't see dirt, it's not there, simple as that.

The boxes can be filled with food and kept in a fridge or freezer. I have been using Lock & Lock since 2004 when I bought my first place and would literally be lost without them. I love how robust they are and how even with daily use, the locking mechanism never deteriorates. Because the tops are flat, they are easy to stack in cupboards when not in use (though, most of the time, mine are) and also take up less room in fridges and freezers compared to plates or bowls because those inevitably lead to wasted space with their funny shapes. Some people might complain that they cannot be stacked inside each other, but I have a relatively big kitchen so space is not an issue - I'm more concerned about them stacking neatly and in a balanced way and not falling like an avalanche when I open the cupboard door.

There are over a hundred different designs in the Lock & Lock range so whatever your requirements there should be something perfect for you. I have a rectangular 180ml one I use to take grapes to work. It's just the right size for 2 portions and keeps them from getting squashed and because I tend to dust my grapes with cinnamon or ginger (try it! It's delish) I like the security of the locked on lid so I don't end up with spices all over my paperwork. For lunch itself I favour the square 600ml one. It is the perfect size for salad or pasta and helps with portion control. Here when I'm making veggie dishes I often find it holds two meals worth of leftovers if you press them down a little to use every corner.

I have tried other 'locking' brands, mainly from pound shops, but most of these eventually got thrown away or used for storage of other things where the airtight seal was not important. Cheap versions sometimes only have 2 locking pieces (Lock & Lock products have 4, one on each side) but more than that, they simply don't deliver the same sort of quality. Although it seems like they click into place, if you then tip them up, deliberately or accidentally, you often get leaks of any liquid (dressing, sauce, etc) from inside.

In the long run, these are not expensive because they last forever unlike some cheaper brands. Prices range from £2 to over £20 depending on the size and number of boxes in the pack, with all the ones I've bought a fiver or less. I cannot recommend these highly enough as they work just as well as they claim, have a number of benefits and are just so versatile.

I taught a class this week on Things You Can't Live Without (Cutting Edge Int, Chapter 8) and while everyone else was saying laptops and Blackberries (one can't even live through a class without the latter) I was thinking on a simpler level. I suppose I could potentially live without my Lock & Lock, but I wouldn't want to, and I'm very glad I don't have to.

http://www.locknlock.com.au/

Available online (including from Amazon) and from Lakeland, John Lewis and many other kitchenware shops.

All products have a lifetime guarantee!

I tend to use my Lock & Locks for kitchen stuff, but many people also like them for everything from screws and washers to hair accessories to craft materials. See the website for more ideas.

Lakeland have now launched their own version of these. I have not tested them so do not know how they compare, but would expect them to be better than my Pound Shop substitutes.

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Product Details

Excellent no-nonsense dark oak effect finish and black DVD tower which holds up to 140 DVDs / Blu-rays / computer games over 7 shelves / Can also be used for computer games or videos and can hold about 210 CDs / Shelves are 20cm apart.